Apparatus for electroplating.



F. S. WOODWARD.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICUON FILED APR-3,1916. 1,188,228. Patented J une 20, 1916.

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F. S. WODDWARDt APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 191s.

1,188,228. PatentedJuneQo, 1916.

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Frederic/Ii JM/oodwarl/ q 1:5 awww/w11* FREDERICK S. WOODWARD, 0F RICHMOND HILL, NEW`YORK.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une'20, 1916.

Application led April 3, 1916. Serial N o. 88,575.

To r/Z y1071.017?, 'it 71mg/ concern lie it known that I, FREDERICK S. WOOD- when, a citizen of the Umted States, and a resident of Richmond Hill, Long Island,l

New York, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Electroplating, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to electro-plating and is designed with a view of producing an apparatus that will deposit metal on the walls of deep pockets or recesses. It is well known that, in a plating bath, the current will take the shortest path from the anode to the cathode and, consequently, the outside surface of the cathode will receive the deposit while littlh or no metal will be deposited in depressions or pockets inthe cathode.` By mv improved apparatus the walls of deep pockets may be plated with as thick a coating of metal as the outside surface. I accomplishthis result by completely segregating the anodes in a separate compartment of the electrolyte and by providing open-end tubes which communicat e with this compartment. These tubes are so placed that they may-be made to enter the pockets of the cathode without touching the walls of the pocket or recess.

It is evident that, by this arrangement, the

walls of the pocketopposite or adjacent to the outer end -of the tubes are nearest the anode and afford the shortest path for the current from the anode to the cathode. Where the cavity has any appreciable depth I move thecathqde during` the plating operation so that the tubes will traverse the pockets and, if the movement be uniform, an even coating will be deposited on the walls of the pocket.

I have illustrated my invention by showing how it can be applied to the production of a radiator of the honeycomb type, such as is used on some automobiles. u

In the description which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Figure 1 is a plan view of a radiator; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan of my apparatus; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a mold and two anode compartments.

The tank 1, of usual construction, is filled with the electrolyte up to the line2. A horizontal partition 3 forms a compartment 4 for the anode 5. The partition has an opening 6 into which is fitted, or which is covcred by a plate 7.

The radiator 8, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a thin shell, having openings or pockets 9 extending through it from side to side.

"A mold 10 is made of the same form as the radiator. This may be of Wax coated with plumbago or other conducting powder, or it may be made of any other suitable material, as a fusible metallic alloy-especially is suspended by bolts 11 from a bar 12, which is notched at each end for guide rods 13-the guide rods extending upward "from the partition 3. The bar 12 is secured on the lower end of a vertical plunger 14 which is guided in a support-y 15. This support extends across the tank and is mounted on side brackets 16. On top of the support 15 a shaft 17 is mounted in two bearing blocks 18. A heart cam l9,secured to the front end of the shaft, engages a roll 20 which is lon the upper end of the plunger 14. The shaft,

is revolved'by power applied to a pulley 21 on the rear end of the shaft. It is evident, from this construction, that a uniform reciprocating movement will be given to the mold.

The plate 7 which covers the opening '6 in the upperwall of the anode chamber, is provided with open-end tubes 23. These tubes are spaced so that they correspond to the pockets of the mold and they, as well as the partition for the anode chamber, are preferably made of non-conducting material. It will bel seen, by reference to Fig. 4, that the only path for the current fromthe anode to the mold is through the tubes 23 and that the shortest path is to the walls of/ the pockets of the mold which are adjacent to the upper end of the tubes. By revolving the shaft 17 the mold will be re- 'ciprocated, as already stated, and the tubes will traverse the pockets of the mold and the motion being uniform, an even coating will be deposited on the inside of the pockets. By turning the shaft very slowly but one traverse movement would be necessary, but if the solution does not work 'uniformly during the entire operation, the plating would be irregular or uneven. By turning the shaft fast enough so that the mold will be reciprocated frequently during the plating operation an even coating will be obtained, even though the solution does not work uniformly. When su'icient thickness is obtained in the pockets the plate with the one of a low melting point. The mold Q p meaeae tubes can be taken out to complete the shell elements: an electrolyte; an anode comparton the outside of the mold. I ment in said electrolyte having a removable 65 lo prevent the electrolyte in `the anode wall portion; an open-end tube mounted in chamber becoming exhausted I keep up a said removable wall portion and adapted to circulation by a pump. This may be of any enter the pocket of the cathode and means means for forcing the electrolyte into saidv approved type, the one shown in the draw-for reciprocating the cathode during the ings, 24, being of the piston variety. It is plating operation to cause -said tube to trav- 7e operated by a connecting rod which is erse said pocket.

driven by a crank arm 2G. rllfhis crank arm 4Q Infgjpocket or recess electro-plating is secured to the front end of a shaft 27 apparatus, the combination of the following which is mounted in bea'rings 28 on a elements: an electrolyte; means for segrebracket 29-1novement being given the shaft gating the anodes in a separate chamber or 75 by power applied to a pulley 30 on its rear compartment in said electrolyte; an openend. The electrolyte enters through a port end tube projecting from said compartment 3l and is forced into-the anode chamber and adapted to enter the pocket of the through the valve 32. This causes a circu cathode; a pump for forcing the electrolyte lation through the tubes and pockets of the into said anode chamber and reciprocating mold, prevents bubbles forming and facilimeans 4to cause said tube to traverse said tates the deposition of the metal. pocket during the plating operation.

In Fig. 5 I have shown, in diagrammatic 5. In a pocket orV recess electro-plating elevation, a mold 33 (having a support 3% apparatus, the combination of the following A which is attached to a bar 35) and two elements: an electrolyte; a partition across 85 anode boxes 36 with two sets of tubes 37. said electrolyte which separates the anode lVhen the mold is in the position shown in from the cathode; an open-end tube Fig. 5 most of the deposit will go on the mounted in said partition which extends right hand side of the mold. By moving into the cathode electrolyte and which is the mold to the right both sets ofctubes will adapted to enter the pocket or recess of the traverse the pockets, depositing metal as cathode; reciprocating means to cause said they go, and when the limit of movement is tube to traverse said pocket during the platreached, the deposit will be made almost ening operation and means for forcing the tirely on the left hand surface of the mold. electrolyte Vfrom the cathode side` to the By handling the mold in this manner, beanode-side of said partition. 95 tween two sets of tubes, the Work is facili- 6. In a pocket or recess electro-plating tated and a smooth deposit on the sides is apparatus, the combination of the following obtained. When a suflicient thickness of elements: an electrolyte; an anode compartmetal has been deposited the work is taken ment in said electrolyte; an open, tubular out of the bath, the bolts 11 are removed projection from said anode compartment 100 and the mitself'ihelted out, leaving a which is adapted to enter the pocket of the thin, hollow shell, extremely light and cathode; reciprocatingvmeans to cause said Water tight. tube to traverse said pocket during the plat- `What I claim is: v ing operation and guide connections to se- 1. In a pocket or recess electro-plating cure the proper alinement or registering apparatus, the combination of the following of said tube with said pocket. elements: an electrolyte; an anode compart- 7. In a pocket or recess electro-plating ment in said electrolyte; a tubular projecapparatus, thecombination of the following tion from said anode compartment, which. elements: an electrolyte; an anode compartis adapted to `enter thev pocket. or recess of ment in said electrolyte; an open, tubular il@ the cathode or object to be plated and means projection from said anode compartment for causing said tube to'traverse said recess which is adapted to enter'the pocket or or pocket during the plating operation. recess of the cathode; means for reciprocat- 2. In a pocket or recess electro-plating ing the cathode to cause said tube to travapparatus, the combination of the following erse said pocket during the plating oper- 11a elements: an electrolyte; an anode compartation and guide connections between the ment in said electrolyte; a tubular projec- Acathode and said anode compartment which tion communicating with said compartment are adapted to properly aline or register and adapted to enter said pocket or recess saidtube with said pocket or recess. of the cathode; means for moving the In testimony whereof I aiix my signature cathode to cause said tube to traverse said in presence of two witnesses.

recess during the process of plating and FREDERICK S VVOODWARD 4 anode compartment. Witnesses:

3. In a pocket or recess, electro-plating i D. Loss-W. Evans, apparatus, the combination of the following 'Femm W. Hess. 

